Family remains hospitalized after deadly Cobb County crash | Crime

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SMYRNA, Ga. -- Police have charged a 31-year-old man in connection with a DUI crash in Smyrna Saturday night that left an 8-month-old boy dead and five people hurt.

It happened just before 11 p.m. Saturday at Windy Hill Road and South Cobb Drive.

Smyrna Police said Darren Curry, 31, was driving west in an eastbound lane, in the 600 block of Windy Hill Road when he hit a taxi head-on, injuring the cab driver.

The impact was so severe, that police said the white Chevy Malibu driven by Curry and the green cab were fused together.

The driver of the car Curry hit, cab driver Jose Diaz, was not seriously injured, but a 3 year old in Curry's car suffered severe head trauma. All of the injured were taken to WellStar Kennestone Hospital.

Police said 8-month-old Dallas Harris-Curry, 3-year-old Kelyn Harris-Curry, 7-year-old Kalil Jenkins and the children's mother, 29-year-old Wykenia Harris, were all in Curry's car; none of the children were properly restrained. A pet inside the car also died in the crash.

Smyrna Police said the wreck was completely avoidable.

"It's heartbreaking," said Cpl. Ed Cason. "The 8-month-old was in a car seat, but it was not properly installed -- and there were indications that the other two children were not properly seat-belted."

Curry faces charges of DUI, vehicular homicide and child endangerment. Police said the DUI charge is based on the use of drugs and not alcohol. Authorities said they won't what type of drugs were involved until they get back toxicology results.

A co-worker of Diaz says he's banged up, but was saved by his seat belt and his airbag. Family members said he is expected to make a full recovery.

"He's going to be all right," said co-worker Juan Paz. "I talked to him this morning, and he's OK."

Curry remained at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital late Sunday, with a Smyna Police officer awaiting his release in order to take him to the Cobb County Jail.

He is the father of Dallas Harris-Curry and Kelyn Harris-Curry. Harris, the woman in the car, is also hospitalized. Police said that they have not ruled out filing charges against her.

"Our investigators are going to look at every avenue," said Sgt. Michael Smith. "If she's culpable in some way, about the restraint of the children in the vehicle, that's certainly going to be looked at."

The injured 3 year old remained in critical condition in ICU at the hospital late Sunday; the 7-year-old boy is expected to make a full recovery.

The Division of Family and Children Services has been notified about the case.